Also Flames should be talking to Gaudreau and finding out exactly what teams he is expecting to sign with. If it's only one, well there's still some minor value in a sign-and-trade to reduce the cap-hit for the team. But let's say NJ and Philly are both completely on board in trying to acquire him and Gaudreau is nearing 50/50 on which team.
Numbers don't really matter but let's say the max Philly will offer over 7 years is 77M (11M cap), New Jersey will offer 80.5M (11.5M). Over 8 years, Philly will offer 84M (10.5M cap), New Jersey 88M (11M cap).
Because of personal preference, because of taxes, because of total value, Gaudreau's camp ranks the contracts as:
Flyers 8 year offer
Devils 8 year offer
Flyers 7 year offer
Devils 7 year offer
Well the Devils are out of the Gaudreau sweepstakes unless they do a sign-and-trade. And if they are willing to do it, Philly has to counter offer.
Allegedly the closest we got to this was a sign-and-trade with Tavares between the Islanders and Leafs. Leafs declined. But Leafs also knew that they were signing Tavares so it was simply if the cap-hit difference was worth the request. If an 8th year is the difference between a team getting Gaudreau or not, that's a huge value to the team.
Flames get value
Gaudreau gets more money
Acquiring team gets Gaudreau and a lower cap hit
It's too much of a win-win-win that the NHL GM's will screw it up though.
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